| FACTS...
Name: Rahab |  |
The Israelites were in the process of seizing the land God had promised them; Cannan. Jericho was a major city in this land. The king of Jericho heard that spies were going to the house of Rahab the prostitute to scope out the city. So the king of Jericho sent a message to Rahab commanding her to bring out the men who came to her, because they had come to spy out the whole land. Rahab took the men and hid them. She lied to the king saying, "Yes, the men were here, I didn't know where they had come from. When it was evening, they left, and I don't know which way they went." In fact, Rahab took the men up to the roof, and hid them under the stalks of flax. Before the spies went to sleep, Rahab said to them, "I know the LORD has given this land to you. Please swear to me by the LORD that you will be kind to my family, because I have been kind to you. Give me a sure sign that you will spare the lives of my family." The men assured Rahab, and asked her to tie a red ribbon in the window to protect her when the battle began.
Sure enough, the whole city of Jericho was burned and looted by the Israelites. But Rahab the prostitute was spared, along with her whole family. After some time, Rahab conceived a son named Boaz, and eventually became an important part of the genealogy of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
IN RAHAB'S OWN WORDS...
The Israelites marched toward the city of Jericho. They were great in number and fearless. I sat in my home, on the city wall and watched as the enemy troops marched around Jericho, blowing trumpets loudly. My family and I clung to the promise made by the Israelite spies. According to the men, the red ribbon should remind the Israelite soldiers to spare the lives of my family and I. But what if the message was not conveyed to all the men? What if it was all a trap?
We all sat together praying as the city began to crumble around us. Fires burned and the cries of women and babes rattled the walls of my little house. The sounds of battle were piercing as my family bowed before the God of Israel and pleaded for His mercy and faithfulness.
Suddenly the door flew open and Israelite men swarmed into my small house. They seized us and rushed us away to safety outside the city walls. God and the spies were faithful to their promises. We ended up joining the Israelite clan. I worshipped the God of Israel, and married a man within this people.
written by: Hannah Thompson